Apparatus for the visual recordation of sound beats



Sept. 27, 1932. 5, LANE 1,879,694

APPARATUS FOR THE VISUAL RECORDATION OF'SOUND BEATS- Filed June 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z I 550/764 1 A /vf "Mada/M Sept. 27, 1932. 5, LANE 7 1,879,694

APPARATUS FOR THE VISUAL RECORDATION OF SOUND BEATS 7 Filed June 15. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fopal Z 1473 5 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE LANE, OI. NEXV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 'I'O AUDIO CINEMA, OF

BRONX, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION on NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR THE VISUAL 1tEOORDATION.OF SOUND BEATS 7 Application filed June 15,

This invention relates to an apparatus for the visual recordation of sound for use with synchronized motion pictures and sound and is particularly adapted for use with that type of motion pictures which are hand-drawn,

such as cartoons or the like.

In the production of sound motion pictures, it is usual to record the sound on one film strip and the corresponding picture on an- 10 other film strip, the mechanism for feeding the films being synchronized so that both films feed exactly at the same speed in order that when both records printed on the same film strip are projected, the two will be timed correctly; How accurately such pictures and sound must be synchronized to produce the most pleasing effects may be judged from the fact that in actual projection, only two frames out of synchronism, that is, if either the picture or the sound lag behind or are in advance of the other, this maladjustment is plainly noticeable, particularly in the case of persons talking. Inasmuch as sound pictures are usually projected twenty-four frames per second, these two frames out of synchronism represent only one-twelfth of a second, yet it is plainly noticeable.

The above difficulty is particularly acute in the synchronization of sound. with drawn cartoons, where a figure or figures must as sume a particular position ,or posture corresponding to a certain definite beat orbeats of the accompanying sound, whether it be music, articulate speech or other audible noise.

arms mounted for relative movement upon a background of contrasting color, each arm being connected mechanically or electrically 59 with an operating key remote therefrom. The

The principal object of the invention there- 1931. Serial No. 544,315.

board carrying the signal arms is adapted to be photographed by an apparatus operatmg simultaneously and synchronously with an apparatus for recording sound, thesemaphore operator beating time to the music by depressing the proper key which actuates the corresponding signal. arm. Thus there is produced on a single film a record of both the sound and a visual indication of the sound beats or other divisions thereof as they occur in a musical measure. Inasmuch as it frequently becomes desirable to retard or increase the tempo of the music so that different 5 intervals of time exist between different beats in a musical measure, this film will faithfully show it. That is, there may be a different number of frames between certain beats than others. of the sound beat may be readily and prop erly combined with the correct picture record to which each corresponds, the positionof the arms indicating which note or beat of the music was sounded at that particular place on the film. Thus, a cartoonist is able to draw his picture so that a figure or figures will assume the desired position or posture corresponding to a particular beat of the music and arrange the same-or other figures in between these landmarks to properly fill the gap. This is true whether the music is played in uniform tempo, or with feeling, that is, a varied tempo. Thus, the artist is able to make his animated figures pause or, slow up in their motions as the tempo is re-' tarded or move more quickly asthe tempo increases. By merely consulting the picture record of the sound beats, he can instantly get a visual conception of the progress of the musical tempo. The invention further consists in the novel combination, arrangementand construction of parts more fully hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings. 1

.Fig. 1 isavfrontelevation of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is, a top plan view of the device of Fig.1. i

' Fig. 3 is a sectional view along theline 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

When developed, this visual record detail of the operat- 5, each shaft carrying onone end thereof andadjacent the front of the signal board, a semaphore or signal arm A, B, C and-D, the arms beingmounted for movement in a restricted path and over the signal board background, each between upper and lower felt protected stops 6 and 7 respectively. As shown, each arm moves over an arc ofrotation, although it is to be understood that any other movement or change of position is contemplated by the invention. 5

'A convenient mechanism for actuating the signal arms comprises keys at, b, c, and d, each of which is mounted on one end of a lever 8 fulcrumme'd as at 9 on a block 10, carried on the base 1, the lever having limited rocking movement about its pivot against the felt protected stops 11 and 12.

The opposite end of each of the levers 8 carries a thong of leather or the like 13 connected at the bottom to one "arm 14 and a crank 15 mounted for rotation in a felt hearing 16. The arm 14 contacts with a stop aced with felt at one limit of its movement to eliminate noise. The crank 15 is provided with an additional arm 17 connected by flexible element 18 to the end'of member 19 fixed-to shaft 5 which carries a semaphore arm. These arms are indicated at A, B, C and D. Depression of key (Z therefore causes a movement of arm 'D from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. A coiled spring 20 returns the signal arm to its initial position as soon as the operator releases the operating key, and

maintains the armin that position. Beneath each of the key levers 8 is a less powerful coiled spring 21 arranged to pull down on each key lever, thus keeping all slack out of the connections between the key and signal arm so thatthe slightest movement of the key will be instantly transmitted to the sema phore. A substantially similar mechanism is provided between the keys at, b and c and their corresponding signal arms A, B and C respectively.

An important feature of the device is the quick action of the semaphore arms. As a consequence of this speed, there is a tendency for each arm to rebound ,afterstriking its lower stop 7 'Unless this rebound is pre*. vented, the signal arm in such rebound position would give a false reading of the photo graphs, that is, it would be difficult for the ar tist to tell whether the arm was moving toward or away from the lower stop 7 and could only be discovered by consulting adjacent photographs.

To prevent this rebound, a damping ar rangement is incorporated in the mechanism which permits free movement of the shaft in thedireetio-n which carries the arm downward toward its stop 7 but in reverse rotation requires the damping device to move with theshaft. Owing to the inertia of the damping weight, rebound is thus prevented although return of the semaphore arm at normal speed is not interfered with.

This damping device may conveniently consist of a weight 22 shown in the form of a bar,'to which one end 23 ofa coil of wire 24 is attached, the other end being free. Sev eral convolutions of the wire fit a sleeve 25 snugly, the sleeve being secured to the shaft 5 and carrying the weight 22. Except for this wire, the counterweight turns freely on the sleeve. The action of this'eombination is, there-fore, to. permit the shaft carrying the semaphore to rotate freely when its direction of rotation is such that the wire coil has a tendency to open. This is the direction in which the semaphores are moving toward their lower stops 7. Any tendency of the shafts 5 to reverse rotation due to rebound of the semaphores causes the coil 24 to tighten on the shaft and thus prevent return motion. Each of the rock shafts 5 are provid ed with a similar mechanism.

It is to be noted that care has been exercised in designing the above apparatus to render it quiet in operation, a prerequisite in all apparatus used in the recording of sound. The invention therefore contemplates that all bearings shall be protected as by felt, the tension connections non-metallic and sound deadening material such as felt used at all motion limiting stops.

In the operation of the device, it is assumed that sound is being recorded'by an apparatus driven by a synchronous motor and another motor fed from the same current drives a motion picture camera at'the same speed, all of which is well-known in the art; While the orchestra plays the selection to which pictures are to be adapted.

the orchestra leader or his assistant, assisted by observing the music 26 on the rest 27 conveniently before him, operates the semaphore apparatus, the signal arms beating time accurately with the music. This music and the visual recorda-tion of these beats and their p0 sition in the musical measure is thus simultaneously recorded on a single film. As each key is depressed, its signal arm will be moved to its stop 7 the remaining arms being in the inoperative position or against stops 6.

' To assist in determining from an examination' of the film record, when-any arm has reached its full operative movement, a color area 28 similar to that of the semaphore is located on the signal board so that photographically the signal arm and its associated stand that the arm has not yet completed its above music.

full travel and therefore the beat is not yet complete. Thus, the invention contemplates the movement of one color area, in this case the signal arm, in relation to a second color area, here the area 28, to indicate a beat or the like. While the drawings indicate the two areas adjacent at the end of a beat, yet it may 'be desirable in some instances to reverse the action and separate the two areas forone beat.

To assist the artist in reading the picture record, it has been found desirable to pro vide a stripe 29 of contrasting color on the background, and to take the picture of the board so that the stripe will show on the film as a dividing line between frames. This positively separates the semaphore arms into definite groups of four.

A moving picture having been taken of the signal board while operated as above,

- the film strip carries pictures showing the beats of the music at the proper distance apart as they occur upon the sound film. By proper is meant the actual number of frames passing the camera aperture between actual beats. As above set forth, this may not be uniform. As a matter of fact, if the music is played with real musical talent, it will not be, except perhaps in the case of music of the march type.

As applied to hand-drawn pictures such'as cartoons, the artist'may wish his figures to be in certain positions simultaneously with certain beats of the music or other. sound. If the appropriate key while being depressed showed on the film signal arm A against its color area 28, at for instance frame number twenty in the film sequence, and armsB, C and D-against their respective color areas at frames thirty-four, forty-eight and sixtytwo respectively, then his drawingmay be made to show a figure in a certain posture at each of these beats,'the semaphores in the horizontal or beat position, which is a dif ferent angular one from that initially occupied by it, serving as landmarks and enabling him to fill in the intervening action.

In the above case, suppose it would be the desire of the artist to depict a man being hit over the head with a stick in time to the By consulting the film, the artist knows that he must draw the picture of the man with the stick in contact with his head at frames twenty, thirty-four, fortyeight and sixty-two. This enables him .to

definitely and positively synchronize the thumps orfbeats of the music with the whack of the: stick. The intermediate frames can thenibefilled in with other picturesv showing the stick being raised from the .mans head and approaching it again, .and the artist knows exactly how many frames he has to cover the travel of the stick. He can, therefore, guide himself accordingly.

. While only four signalarms have been shown in the drawings, obviously any desired number may 'be used and may indicate whole beats or parts of beats. Other indicating devices thansemaphores or signal arms may likewise be used as the particular embodiment has been shown merely for the sake of convenience Where sound other than music is to-be synchronized, depression of a key may occur simultaneously with the firing of a gun orthe like for instance, the effect being the same. I J I Inv Fig. 6 there is shown. a modified form of device which requires lessactual movement of the signal arms to leave a record on the picture film and yet in some instances this record may be more positive than with the instrumentalities above described.

In this form, a series of apertures 30 are providedin the face'3 of the background, each of .ivhichfis so located that it is normally hidden behihdone .of the arms A, B, C and D, whenithe arms are in the inoperative or inactive position. Av constantly burning light means is located behind'the board 3 sothat upon depression of the proper key upon the key board and consequent movement of the corresponding arm to the beat position, the light will be visible to the taking camera through theslit'or aperture 30. As shown, arm B has been moved to the'beat position by. depression ofthe key 6, and the light is visible through the uncovered slit 30'.

By proportioning the slits 30 so that they are long and narrow and arranged parallel to the trailing edges of the arms, they may be uncovered very quickly by'only a slight arm movement. Obviously, the color of the background 3 should be such as 'to be photo: graphically contrasting to the photographic effect ofthe exposed light slit. The surface of theIarms-when usinga light slit may be eitherofthe same photographic color as-the background or contrasting thereto,

: In Fig, Githereis also shown a modified 1 i or the like of substantially elongated shape, and of appreciable thickness,- having embedded therein at one end aweight 32 The stop is adapted to be secured to the face of the board ;3 as by attaching screws 83. This arrangement permits ajcertain amount of flexibility' between the weighted and attached ends solthat whenan arm strikes its stop, not" only is the blow silenced by the sponge rubber from which it is made, but inertiaof the weight 32 causes cessation of the arm movement. That part of the sponge body with which the arm is to contact may be enlarged as at 3A whichbeing flattened under the arm will impart further stops to stop the arm movement quietly.

It will, of course, be apparent that either the stop 6 of Fig. 1 or. the stop 31 of Flg. 7 may be used with the arms of Fig. 1 or the light slit of Fig. 6. 1

It is essential to convenient reading of the strip carrying this beat record that photographically contrasting colors be used on the signal arms and their color areas on the one hand and the board background on theother and that movement of the signal arms between stops in a forward direction be as nearly instantaneous as possible.

It will be apparent that the above device permits the operator to be at a distance from the field being photographed and out of the area of intense illumination'and heat, which is a decided advantage. The above device requires no unusual manual eifort for operation but is similar to that to which musicians are accustomed as in the playing of a piano. In addition, the operator may view the sheet music before him or see the orchestra while operating the-semaphore, all of which tends to the accurate timing of the beats.

Due to leverage, the semaphore arm movement is amplified beyond the actual move ment of the key. This is of assistance in reading the photographs.

Due to the arrangement of parts and their being protected by sound-deadening material, the mechanism is practically silent in its operation, making unnecessary the enclosure thereof in a sound-proof booth as is usually necessary for devices used-With the recording of sound to prevent the microphone from catching the undesired noise. I

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular. apparatus and method, yet obviously I do not Wish to'be limited thereto as many changes will occur to those skilled'in this art. The

I invention is therefore to be construed broadly and limited only by the scope of the claims.

I claim: 1. A device for visually indicating sound beats which comprises a plurality of signal arms movable over a background of contrasting color, means to move said arms, a stop to limit movement of each arm, and-means movementof the arms, and sound deadening material engageable by the keys and. the

arms. I

3. A device for visually indicating sound beats which comprises a plurality of signal arms movable over a background of contrasting color, means to move said arms, each arm being carried by a rock shaft, and a damping device on each shaft to prevent sudden rotation of the shaft in one direction.

4. A device for visually indicating sound beats which comprises a plurality of signal arms movable over a background of contrasting color, means to move said arms including depressible keys remote from the arms, operable connectionsbetween the keys and the arms, stops limiting the movement of the arms, and means to return each arm to its initial position after movement.

5. A device for visually lndicating sound beats which comprises a signal element, a

background of contrasting-color, means to move the signal element over the background, said background including a stripe of color contrasting therewith.

-6. A device for photographically recording sound beats and their position in a musical measure, comprising a series of signal elements corresponding to the number of beats in a measure, means to independently operate each signal element, each element being movable substantially instantaneously over a background of photographically contrasting color, each element at the end of'its movement photographically merging with a stop of the same photographic color as that of the element. 7 V

7. A device for photographically recording sound beats, comprising a background and series of signal arms movable thereover,

a light behind the background visible through an aperture therein and normally covered by each arm, and means to independently move each arm so as to expose the light coveredby it. v

r 8. A device'for visually indicating sound beats, which comprises a signal arm movable over a background of contrasting color, a patch of color on the background of the same color effect as that of thesignal arm, and means to move the arm toward and away from'said patch of color.

9. A device for visually indicating sound beats, which comprises a signal arm movable over a background of contrasting color, a patch of color on the background of the same color effect as that of the signal arm, and means to move the arm toward and away from said patch of color, and a stop for limiting movement of the arm in one direction in proximity to the color patch.

10. A device for visually indicatingsound beats,.which comprises a signal arm movable over a background of contrasting color, a pa'tchof color on the background of the same color'efiect asthat of thesignal arm, and

means to move the arm toward and away from said patch of color, and a flexible stop for limiting movement of the arm in one direction in proximity to the color patch.

11. A device for visually indicating sound beats, which comprises a signal arm movable over a background of contrasting color, a patch of color on the bac ground of the same color effect as that of the signal arm, and

means to move the arm toward and away from said patch of color, and a relatively movable stop for limiting the movement of the arm in one direction.

12. A device for visually indicating sound beats, comprising a signal arm, a background, an aperture therein, a light adapted to be Visible through said aperture, and means to move said arm over and away from the aper ture.

13. A device for visually indicating sound beats, comprising a background, a series of signal arms movable over said background, the background carrying a stripe of color contrasting with that of the background and adapted upon successively photographing the imageof the background and arms as on a motion picture film, to visually identify each separate image. V In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto sub- 80 scribed my name this 8th day of June, 1931.

LANE.

GEORGE 

